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Problematising Excellence as a Legitimating Discourse

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Gender, Power and Higher Education in a Globalised World

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education ((GED))

Abstract

Excellence is the legitimating discourse for the existence and perpetuation of gender inequality. This chapter uses a multi-method approach to problematise this legitimating construct of excellence in higher education institutions (HEIs). Through an analysis of policy documents in the UK HE sector and in one case study university in relation to recruitment/advancement, excellence is presented as an unproblematic, tautologically vacuous term. The chapter argues that informal power as reflected in micropolitical practices therefore becomes important. Drawing on qualitative data from an Irish case study, four types of micropolitical practices are discussed: procedural subversion; gendered devaluation and stereotypes; sponsorship and local fit. Given HEIs are hierarchically male dominated and homosocial, all of these are likely to disadvantage women.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for the cross-national FESTA project was provided by the EC Directorate General for Research and Innovation: Grant number 287526. The contributions of all those involved in this project are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    Pat O’Connor

  2. Geary Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Pat O’Connor

  3. School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK

    Sarah Barnard

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  1. Pat O’Connor
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Correspondence to Pat O’Connor .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    Pat O'Connor

  2. School of Education, Federation University, Ballarat, VIC, Australia

    Kate White

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O’Connor, P., Barnard, S. (2021). Problematising Excellence as a Legitimating Discourse. In: O'Connor, P., White, K. (eds) Gender, Power and Higher Education in a Globalised World. Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69687-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69687-0_3

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